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Military tells Cameron to retreat over new jets

Shipbuilders working on a Queen Elizabeth class carrier at BAE Systems in PortsmouthChris Ison/PA

David Cameron is due to be presented with what officials believe is an overwhelming case for a change of policy on Britain’s troubled aircraft carrier programme.

The Times has learnt that Forces chiefs will unanimously advocate that the Government should abandon plans to buy the conventional carrier version of the American Joint Strike Fighter — the F35C.

Instead, a reassessment of the carrier programme will advise the Government to revert to the plans of the previous Labour administration to buy the STOVL (short take-off, vertical landing) F35B version of the Joint Strike Fighter.

The findings could be presented to the Prime Minister as early as this week.

It will be another headache for Mr Cameron as he returns to Parliament after an Easter dominated by…